Internal-combustion engine



INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE FiledJune 1, 1925' 2 sheets-sheet 1 April 24,1928.

J. S. REID INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed June 1. 1925 19 if; 3/ W :iz; A, 5 ,,f' n

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr..24, 1928.

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JAMES 's, REID, or

Q FIcE;

INTERNAL-conten ion nema Application filcd. J unc 71',

-Th is invention relates to improvements in internal combustion enginesa l One object of the present invention is to provide an internalcombustion engine 'in which the firingor explosion of the comv pressedgas is comparatively'quick and the tiring stroke is comparatively shortin extent, and also in which the number of explosions. per revolutionisreduced'to a minimum, thereby reducing, to a minimum the amount of heatresulting from the explosions.

ci-itnother object is to provide an internal coi-iibustion engine whichthe poweris applied along a main direct line between the explosionchamber and the drive shaft there? by increasii-ig the powerandefiiciencyof the engine, 7 r

A further-f object is to provide such an engine in which the connectingrod and ex plosion chamber are formed as a'is1ngle,-un1- tar-y, cmposite structure, theeXpan-sible chamber and connecting rod beingmerged togethei: r 7 I i v i nethcr objectislto produce such an enginewhich is comparatively light i-nweight. c More specifically, :thepresent. invention comprises a single. gas chamber which is adapted todisteud as it rece v sthe gas and.

to, be then collapsed for pla ing the gas lull-1 dcrucompressicn for theexplosion which n turn disteuds the gas chamber'frorn' which theexploded gases are then exhausted by collapsingof the gas c.11ambr-;Inthe present form otinvention as here defined and illustrated, onlya single gas chamber is .enipioyed and'accordingly there is-required butasingle sparl; plug.- E ach explosion of compressed gas is; accordingtothe present form of invention, sufl'lcient to drive the flywheelthrough a complete revolution because ot the increased efficiency inpower produced- .by each explosionrthis being due to the con-7,struction and arrangementwof the several parts. With such increasedleifioiency iti'is possible to reduceithe period of explosion to i aminimum and infact in'the present form of invention the firing strokeextendsv over only approximately 190 torione quarter of a revolution ofthe flywheelr, Thus the firlng.

of the gas isflcompar-atively quick; and the number of explosions iscomparatively small, with the result that the amount otheatdeveloped inthe operation 0f the ngine iS liliewu reduced to ya minimum Witha correispending increase in eificicncys. 7 Referring to the figures ofthe Fig-Lisa $ectiQnal view tekenon line 141,

igLZylud Fig, 2 is a" sectional {view taken nl ilt; 2- 2 i' Fig. 1,these. two figures being taken. at 9Q to each other.

Wheels,each of Which. is formed of two, parts sbfas to permit adjustmentfor taking up wear, as will belater explained.

Each flywheel. for instance comprises an.

.9%?! part 3 and-an inne r'part 3 with adusting screws t which extendthrough the outenparts 3? and engage incorrespondingly' formeddepressions in the contacting faces o f thefp'arts fill as to force thesame inwardly; whenever t might become necessary v tetake up wear 01.1the inside faces of the.

inner paptsiilf j'lhe occasion for taking up such {wear W111 laterappear. The lower cylindrical member 5 extends between and tl1e;b0lt; 6,.ata point below thecenter thereof i and"; upon i the T men diameter; asviewed for instance in F g. 2. This lower member 5 1s nmuutetl for pvotal or. rocking "movement length thereofso as toaccommodate thecorrespon dingly I'fQi'med lower edge portions 8 1h 1-aI integral withthe side wall'memv hers 9 These; members 9 hayeturningmovementwithrespect tothe lower member 5 by 7 i virtuev ,ot the particular socketconnection just now referred to. The upper ends or edge portions of themembers 9rare formed 1n the same-L nanner and have like connections withcorrespondingly formed sockets I provided in we the intermediatefloating men 1a berslO, The, upperparts of the members 10 are likewiseprovided with the same form of sockets for connection or engagement withthecoprespondingly formed lower edge pore, tipns 0f. the upper'side wallmembers 11; thesc upper side members 11 corresponding with thalnwer sidemembers 9 and being substantial duplicates thereof. The upper edge-orend portions ;of the upper side mem-, bepsll are tor-med in the samemanner and havelike pivotal engagement in the correspond nglyv termedsock t p v ed in the IGWQiieide-portion of the upper rocking cylindricalmember Themember 12 has hamarg el edge P t on o a and er got prowidedvithi a'tenon 13,1501 engagement fl flwing in the correspondingly termedgroove pro vided in the inner side of the end portions of the bracket 14which is supported and depends from the under side of the head 15. Thusthe member 12 is rockably mounted on a fixed axis, while the member isrockably termediate connecting blocks are spaced apart, as indicated inFig. 2 of the drawing,

so as to provide a chamber for the reception of gases which are admittedthrough the space 17 provided through the upper cylindrical member 12.The gases'are admitted from the intake manifold 18, thence through thepassage 19 to the port 20 by way of the valve 21. The operation of theintake valve 21is controlled by the rocking lever 22 which is'mountedupon the rock shaft 28, the stem of the valve being normally forcedupwardly by means of the spring241 wh ch surrounds the same and bears upon the underside of the disk 25 by'the valve stem. The end of the lever22 through which extends'the Valve stem is adapted to engage the nut 26on the valve stem. The exploded gases are exhausted out through the port27 thence past the outlet valve 28, through the passage 29 to. theexhaust 30. The valve 28 is controlled in its operationby a rock lever31 which is 'mounted upon the shaft 23 in the same man- The structure ofthe valve 28 and its other parts is the same as in the nor as shaft 22.

case of valve 21 The two rock levers 22 and. 31 are controlled in theiroperations by means of the cams 32 and 33 which are mounted upon shaft 31 in proper timed relation so as to admit and exhaust the gases at Theshaft 34 which is the proper intervals. mounted in suitable bearings onthe casing is driven by pulley 35 which in turn is driven by the pulley36 mounted upon the drive shaft 1, there being a suitable belt or otherconnection between these two pulleys.

The spark plug 37 is mounted in the top of the casing and is so arrangedthat the gases will be exploded after they have been received in thedistensible gaschamber and then placed under pressure by'the collapsingaction of .the chamber in the manner already referred to. According tothe arrangement here shown, which however might be modified withincertain limitations according to the spirit of the present invention thespark plug is screwed down in to a correspondingly threaded opening inthe middle part of the bracket or block 14, as illustrated in Fig.

1. The spark plug is sopositioned that the terminals of the sameare-properly located with respect to the space 17 into which the gasesare received from the intake. The lead wire 38 provides a connectionbetween the single spark plug and the distributor box'39 which is of anysuitable form so that there will be a spark for explosion'of the gas foreach revolution of the flywheel.

Briefly stated, the operation s as follows:

According to the present form of device, the shaft 1 may be cranked by asuitable crank handle which is applied to the end 40 of the drive shaftso as to turn the flywheel. from the position indicated inFig. 2 throughthe dotted line positionshown in the left hand part of Fig. 2 andcontinued around to the point at which the collapsible gas chamber hasbeen filled by gases through the. intake manifold and pl'acedundercompression by the collapsing action of the gas chamber, such positionbeing illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The walls of the gaschamber in such position occupy substantially horizontal parallelarrangement or relation, as clearly indicated in this figure. Duringapproximately the first half of such crankin operation, the intakevalve-is open. With the gas under compression, the circuit is completedthrough the spark plug and there .is an explosion ofthe compressed gas,with the result that the gas chamber isexpanded or distended and theflywheel is their continued in'its rotation in clockwise direction underthe power of the engine itself. This firingperiod continues throughoutsubstantially .90 and the force thereof is sufficient to carry theflywheel around to the same point where the next-explosion takes place.

As sooiras the one explosion has occurred, the wallsof the gas chamberwill be again collapsed so as to come to occupy the position indicatedin full lines. in Fig. 2,'during which time the gases are expelled outthrough the exhaust, the exhaust valve having been automatically openedat the proper interval of time. I 7

During such operation, the lo member 5 will rock on its pivoted endportions-so as to occupy the severalsuccessive positions as the flywheelturns in its clockwer cylinder wise direction. Such actionis madepossible 7 by virtue of the socket joint between the side walls of thegas chamber and the lower cylindrical member 5. 1 Likewise the otherconnections between the side walls of the chamber and the intermediateblock 10 as well as the upper cylindrical member 12,

make possible the distension and collapse of ,gas-chamber-under theengines own power, 130

the upper cylindrinat inemberi is rocked or passage 17: forthe'transmission t thegasesv through theupper cylindrical member is alwaysin. communication with the ports 20 I V byfcut down. the amount. of heatdeveloped and 27. I V I The outer surfaces of. the side walls-'9 and:

ila're' provided-with vanes 9f" and-111as'a meansot' facilitating theradiation or heat from these walls so asto keep" down the temper-attireof the engine; @ther-su'itable' cooling'means might also be adopted'.

' I have also provided a means at lubricaf tion comprising the oilpumpAl which: is

mounted upon the top of the engine casing and which is adapted to'bedriven by the shaft 34' with suitable intermediate gear reduction. Fromtheoil pump 41 there are= provided suitable pipe connections 421 whichconnect with ducts or channels 43 provided! through the upper part oftheicasi ng andi whichlead to the upper cylindrical. member 12 forlubrication thei'eoil, There is provided also the duct' ii througlirthecyl in d'rical member 12, this duct opening at the point 45 forlubrication. ofthe uppersocket joint of the side plate 151 out the oneside, while there is provided: also: another passage or port 46throughmember 12 for; the supply.

of oil to the corresponding joint of the other upper plate 11. Eachsofthe upper cylindrical port-ions is providedwithl a= port 47 eX:- tendingtherethrough and communicating ywith :thevertically vdisposed: channelsor ducts 48 whichleadi to the upp'enisurfaces of the lower cylinderportionst'of the plate members 11. vided in these cylindrical portions,asindi-1 cated at 49, and they are adaptedito commue nicate through theports 50' with like ducts or ports 51 which extend through the up? perportions of lower! plate member-s9; The lower ends of ducts orports.5.halve comma-- =nicati'on with channel's 52 which extenddownwardly and communicate at then: lower:

ends with the ports '53 provided; in'the. lower portions of side wallmemberskQL. 'Ponts 53f communicate with short duets. 54: whiclrareproiidedin the lower cylindrical member 5 and. which leadpto the pivotalmounting of. the same for lubrication thereof. b The oil pump 41 issuppliedwfrom thereser-voir55 by means ot pipe connection .56.

Any wear which; might occur between the v inner faces of the flywheeldisks and: the contacting' portions during rotation of the same can betaken up by adjustment of-the screws" 4 which are adapted to force theinner parts 3 inwardly. Suitable: packing might also.

be provided between these parts so asto prievent leakage.' Any othersuitable means might also be adopted for thissa'rne general purpose; 1 M

Thusxit will be seen thatvI have produced Suitable ducts onports' arepro-.

an integrat combustion. engiznewin which i there is b11158singleezqalosioniforieachrevo;- lutienso'f the flywheel' andriii whichthe' fi'r ingz stroke is comparatively quick and oi companatiwely short,duration, lv/iz ap-;

proximately ,fand: in whichil have'therer.

in: the engine: to afminim'um,.-w-ith'* a'i-consequent increase 1nefficiency. a 1 I It willber seen, also that in my:present-1mprovedztypeof: engine, the line offorce alongwhichthe'powerof'thc:explosionl-isexerted I r is. substantialil-y normal to the facesof the distendi-ng 0r. collapsing walls of. the; gas

' chamber; wit-lithe result" that the power is,

applied in amost direct manner and; withv I the highest possible degreeof. efficiency This-is made possible by, the particular mking; action ofthe upper cylinde'rxmember121' and the accompanying nioven ients of the:other parts connected therewith In this;

connection, it, might-be said; thatthe cola-1 v lap'sible gas,-chamberstructure servesalsc as f J a connecting rod, siricth-is is -theonly: drive;

connection to the flywheelf, 'Or-"inr 'other words, the connecting;roditiightbesaidtobe:

of I collapsible, a hollow formiand'; serves as a gas chan'iber; Thusthe 'gas chamberlandm connecting :rod' are'icom-prlsedz v in 3a unitaryor self-contained structure; Andzbecause oi the particular structure andoperation o f;

this device, there is ieal izedifu'lla advantage which are ineidentfto'certainother types/of of the momentum ofthe moving partsiwith- 7 outany. appreciable intervalso'f inertia ma f engines ,in 'whi'ehthere isreciprocatory .mo-

,tion. In the" present case, the: parts'aremovingcontinuously'andthere;is inerel'ypa-v progressive change in the direction of, such movement;-Th-wlsmeans anv increased 'efliciencyr r Each of the periods intake,sion, explosion and exhaust corresponds to:

approximately 90 or a quarter-turn of the fly-wheel; andfonpurpofsesqofdescription and explanation, these 1 four periods arehere;v

constituting vone member, means forming an expansible gass'f chamberarranged? between 'and ha ving operativeeonnection with said fixed and.mov

able Imembers, said means including :a fly:

wheeh upon which said mov a-blemember; is mounted, and constituting pantof the Wallof said chmnber, and-.lneans for exploding gases in saidchamber as to cause'expane; SIOIT-Of thesame for operation o saidmov vable nejmber.

Anwintcrnal combustion, engine, comprising a relativelyfiXed membenamovable member; mean-stormingan expan'sibl chamber arranged between andhaving op wheel upon which said movable member is mounted, and'means forexploding gases in said chamber so as tocause expansion of the same foroperation 011 said movable member. a

3. An internal combustion engine, comprising a relatively fixed member,a movable member, means forming an expansible gas chamber arrangedbetween and having operative connection with said fixed and movablemembers, said means comprising a plurality of collapsible wallsextending between said fixed and movable members, and a sectionalfly-wheel upon which the said movable member is mounted, the sections ofsaid fly-wheel sl'lpplementing the said collapsible walls as anenclosure for the gas chamber, and means for exploding gases in saidchamher so as to cause expansion of the same for operation of saidmovable member.

l. An internal combustion engine, comprising a relatively'fixed member,a movable member, means forming an expansible gas chamber arrangedbetween and'having operative connection with said fixed andmovablemembers. said means comprising a plurality ot collapsible wallsextending between said fixed and movable members, a two-part fly-wheelforming opposite walls of said gas chamber and supplementing saidcollapsible walls; said movable member being carried by saidfly-wheel,and means for "exploding gases in said chamber so as to cause expansionof the same for operation of said movable member. 7

5. An internal combustion engine, comprising a relatively fixed member,a movable member, means forming an expansible gas chamber arrangedbetween and having operative connection with said fixed and movablememberasaid means including a flywheel upon which said movable member ismounted, means tor taking up wear so as 'to prevent leakage of gas fromsaid chamber, and means for exploding gases in said chamber so as tocause expanslon of the same for operation of said movable member.

6. An internal combustion engine, comprising a relatively fixed member,a movable member, means forming an expansible gas chamber arrangedbetween and having operative connection with said fixed andmovable'm'embers, said means including a flywheel upon which saidmovable member is mounted, means for adjusting said fly-wheel so as toprevent leakage of gas from said chamber, and means for exploding gasesin said chamber so as to cause expansion of the same for operation ofsaid movable member.

7. An. internal combustion engine, cont.

prising a relatively fixed member, a movable member, means forming anexpansible gas chamber arranged between and having operative connectionwith said fixed and movable members, said means including 'a sectionalfly-wheel upon which said movable member is mounted, means for adjustingthe sections of said fly-wheel so as to prevent leakage of gas from saidchamber, andmeans for exploding-gases in said chamber so a's to causeexplosion of the same for operation of said movable member.

8. An internal combustion engine, com

prising a relativelyfixed support, a member rockably mounted upon saidsupport, a flywheel, a member rockably and eccentrically mounted uponsaid fly-wheel, a collapsible and distensible gas chamber being formedbetween said members, said chamber being adapted to be collapsed anddistended by the force of gas explosions'therein and saidtorce beingtransmittedto said fly-wheel for operation thereof and means forexploding gases in said chamber. 1 i i 9. In an internal combustionengine, a frame, a crank mounted for rotation therein,

a pair of end members, rectangular pivotally connected wall membersextending between said end members and iormmg therewith a chamber, twoof said wall members being connected with said frame,- two of said wall,

members being connected with said crank whereby rotation of said crankis accompanied by alternate distension and collapse of said chamber andmeans for effecting a.

power cycle in said chamber. 1

10. In an internal combustion engine, a frame, acrank mounted forrotation therein, a pair of fly wheels, rectangular pivotally connectedwall members extending between said flywheels and forming therewith achamber, twoof said wall members being connected with said frame, two ofsaid wall members being connected with the said crank, whereby rotationof-said crank is accompanied by alternatedistension'and collapse of saidchamber and means for effect ing a power cycle in said chamber.

11. In an internal combustion engine," a

ill)

Ifili frame, pair of end members mounted for ro tation therein, a cranksecured between said end members, rectangular wallmenibers ex tendingbetween said end members and forming therewith a combustion chamber, twoof said wall members beingconnected with said frame, two of said .wallmembers being connected with said crank, and each of said wall membersbeing connected with another wall member, whereby rotation V of saidcrank is accomplished by alternate distension and collapsing of saidchamber.

12. In an internal combustion engine, a

frame, a pair of end members mounted for I a rotation therein, acrankextendlng between said end members, rectangular wall members extendingbetween'said end:members and forming therewith a combustion chamber,said chamber being in section a paralleloram tWo of said Wall membersbein connectedw'ith another wall member, whereby upon rotation of saidcrank said parallelo- 10 gram is collapsed alternately upon each of itsdiagonals, and said chamber correspondingly-extended and contracted.

. l t stimonywhereof Ihereb f m signature. a

JAMESdS. REID.

